Systems and methods for improving golf swing

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for improving a golf swing are described. Deviated motions are detected and, in response to the deviated motion, feedback, such as, for example, an electric shock, is provided to the source of the deviated motion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/001,402, filed Oct. 31, 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

This invention relates to the field of sporting devices and, in particular, to systems and methods for improving a golf swing.

BACKGROUND

Golfing is a difficult sport requiring many different skills. One such skill is proper putting skills. The putting stroke is only one of several types of golf swings, yet it accounts for nearly half of all swings made during regulation play. Proper putting skills include maintaining a proper upperbody position, watching the ball during the stroke, swinging the putter along a straight line throughout the putting stroke, keeping the face of the putter square during the stroke and striking the ball solidly with the proper pace.

Golfers often take lessons or purchase training aids to improve their golf game. Many golfers, however, cannot afford to have extensive golf lessons. In addition, the training aids do not provide the valuable feedback that a lesson may provide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a swing system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a swing system in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rails in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the rails in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the rails in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an end view of adjustable rails in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a flat rail system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a feedback system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the swing system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the swing system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the swing system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of the system of FIG. 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a process in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description sets forth numerous specific details such as examples of specific systems, components, methods, and so forth, in order to provide a good understanding of several embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that at least some embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known components or methods are not described in detail or are presented in simple block diagram format in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. Particular implementations may vary from these exemplary details and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a system for improving a golf swing. The system 100 includes a guide system 102, a player 104, a golf ball 106, a golf club 108, and a feedback system 1 10. The guide system 102 includes a first rail 112 and a second rail 114 separated by a distance 116. The guide system 102 also includes a contact detection system 118. The golf club 108 has a head 120 and a handle 122. The detection system 118 is coupled with the feedback system 110. In FIG. 1, the detection system 118 is illustrated as being wirelessly coupled with the feedback system 110. The detection system and feedback system may each include an antenna to wirelessly communicate with one another.

The guide system 102 is provided to train the player 104 to swing the club 108 in a straight line. The player, therefore moves the club 108 in a linear sliding movement within the guide system 102. In particular, the player 104 positions the ball 106 and club 108 in the guide system 102. The head 120 of the golf club 108 and the golf ball 106 are positioned between the first rail 112 and second rail 114. The player 104 then attempts to linearly swing the club 108 within the guide system 102. By avoiding contact with the first rail 112 and/or second rail 114, the player 104 should have a proper swing.

The detection system 118 is provided to detect deviations from the linear movement of the club 108. In one embodiment, the first rail 112 and the second rail 114 are connected with the detection system 118, such that the detection system 118 detects contact of the head 120 of the golf club 108 with the first rail 112 or second rail 114. In one embodiment, the detection system 118 includes one or more sensors to detect contact between the golf club 108 and the guide system 102. In another embodiment, the detection system 118 is connected in a circuit such that contact with one or more of the rails 112, 114 completes a circuit, as will be described in further detail hereinafter. It will be appreciated that the rails 112, 114 may be directly connected with the feedback system (i.e., a detection system 118 is not required) if the rails 112, 114 are connected in a circuit such that contact with one or more of the rails 112, 114 completes a circuit.

It will be appreciated that the detection system may detect other deviations in motion in the swing as well. For example, the detection system may include an accelerometer to detect deviations in the pace of the swing. In another example, the detection system may include one or more sensors in the head of the golf club to detect the location of the head relative to the ball at contact. In one embodiment, the detection system includes one or more sensors. The sensors may be capacitive sensors, strain gages, piezoelectric transducers, accelerometers, and the like, and combinations thereof.

The detection system 118 communicates with the feedback system 110 when the detection system 118 detects contact between the golf club 108 and the guide system 102. That is, the detection system 118 communicates with the feedback system 110 when the detection system 118 detects deviations in linear movement of the swing by the player. The detection system 118 similarly may communicate with the feedback system 110 when other deviations in the swing are detected.

The feedback system 118 provides feedback to the player 104 when the feedback system 118 receives a signal from the detection system 110 indicating an error by the player 104. In one embodiment, the feedback system 118 provides an electric shock. The feedback system 118 may also or alternatively provide feedback that is one or more of a vibration, noise, a visual indicator, and the like as will be described in further detail hereinafter.

In one embodiment, the amount of feedback may be varied by the user in accordance with their skill level. For example, the intensity and/or time duration may be varied. The feedback and/or detection system may include controls and/or a display, such as, for example, a LCD display to allow a user to adjust the feedback and/or sensitivity of detection. Similarly, in one embodiment, the guide system may be adjusted by the user in accordance with their skill level. For example, the distance 116 between the rails 112, 114 may be adjusted.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates another embodiment of a system for improving a golf swing. FIG. 2 illustrates a system in which the feedback system 110 is directly coupled with the detection system 118. For example, in FIG. 2, a wire 124 (or another conductor) is provided between the detection system 118 and the feedback system 110 to electrically couple the detection system 118 and the feedback system 110. It will be appreciated that in embodiments in which a detection system is not provided, one or more wires may directly connect the rails 112, 114 with the feedback system 110.

FIGS. 3-7 illustrate various views and configurations of the guide system 102 in accordance with embodiments of the invention. FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the guide system 102 and FIG. 4 is a top view of the guide system 102. The guide system 102 is provided to guide player to have a linear swing. The illustrated guide system 102 includes a first rail 112 and a second rail 114 separated by a distance 116, as described above. It will be appreciated that, in another embodiment, the guide system 102 may be provided with one rail.

In embodiments in which the rails 112, 114 complete a circuit (i.e., a detection system 118 is not provided) to detect contact, the rails 112, 114 are metallic or another conductive material, and material between the rails 112, 114 is non-conductive. In other embodiments, the rails 112, 114 may be metallic, plastic, or the like.

The height of the rails 112, 114 may be any height or range of heights between zero inches and about five inches. It will be appreciated that the height of the rails 112, 114 may also be greater than five inches.

In one embodiment, the rails 112, 114 themselves detect contact (i.e., the rails 112, 114 are sensors). In other embodiments, sensors are coupled to an inner surface of each of the rails 112, 114.

In FIG. 5, the rails 112, 114 are positioned on an optional base 126 at ends of the base 126, separated by a distance 116. The distance 116, separating the rails 112, 114 may be any distance or range of distances between about four inches and twelve inches. It will be appreciated that the distance may be less than about four inches or greater than about twelve inches.

FIG. 6 illustrates adjustability of the rails 112, 114. As a player improves their golfing skills, the player may increase the difficulty of the system 100 by adjusting the rails 112, 114 so that the rails 112, 114 are closer to one another. It will be appreciated that a player's linear movement must be more accurate when the rails 112, 114 are closer together. In FIG. 6, the rails are positioned away from the ends of the base 126. In FIG. 6, both rails are positioned away from the ends of the guide system 102. It will be appreciated that the first rail 112 may be moved relative to the second rail 114 away from the end and vice versa, or both rails 112, 114 may be moved.

FIG. 7 illustrates a guide system 102 in which the rails 112, 114 are flat. In FIG. 7, the rails 112, 114 may act as the detection system 118. For example, the ends 112, 114 of the guide system may be metallic (or another conductive material), separated by an insulating material, to complete a circuit when the club contacts the rails 112, 114. In another example, the ends 112, 114 of the guide system include one or more sensors to detect deviations in linear movement (or other deviations as described above).

In another embodiment, lasers are positioned at an end of the guide system and corresponding detectors are positioned at another end of the guide system. The light emitted from the laser corresponds to the rails 112, 114. In this embodiment, if the detector fails to detect the light from one of the lasers, the detector communicates such a detection to the feedback system.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary feedback system 118 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the feedback system is a collar 150 that is secured around the player's leg, wrist, finger, or neck, etc. It will be appreciated that the feedback system need not be a collar. For example, an electrode (or other feedback device) may be fastened or otherwise directly attached to the player. In another example, the feedback system may be provided at the guide system (e.g., loudspeaker at guide system).

The collar 150 may include a buckle 152 to secure the collar 150 to the player. In one embodiment, the collar 150 is adjustable. The collar 150 includes a feedback device 154. For example, in FIG. 8, the feedback device 154 includes an electrode 156 to deliver an electric shock to the player and a speaker 158 to produce an audio noise. It will be appreciated that the collar 156 may include fewer feedback components than illustrated. For example, only an electrode 156 may be provided or only a speaker 158 may be provided. It will be appreciated that alternative feedback devices or combinations of feedback devices may include. Other exemplary feedback devices include a vibration device, such as a vibration motor, a visual device, such as, an LED or LCD, other sound producing devices, other electric shock devices, and the like.

In FIG. 8, the feedback device 154 also includes controls 160, a power supply 162 and a processor 164. The feedback may also include an RF receiver (not shown). The electrode 156, speaker 158, controls 160 and power supply 162 are electrically coupled to one another through the processor 164. It will be appreciated that, in some embodiments, a processor 164 need not be provided. In one embodiment, the power supply 162 is a low voltage power source such as a 9V battery, three AAA batteries, and the like. In one embodiment, the controls 160 include an intensity dial and/or duration dial to allow a user to adjust an intensity and/or duration of the feedback. In one embodiment, the controls 160 include one or more switches may be provided to select a mode (e.g., shock, vibrate, etc.) and/or turn the feedback system on/off.

As described above, the feedback provided to the user may be an electric shock. Various combinations of current and voltage may be used to provide the electric shock. Exemplary minimum currents and voltages include, for example, 1 mA, 10V at 10,000 ohms, 1V at 1,000 ohms and a power of 0.01 W. Exemplary maximum currents and voltages include, for example, 5 mA, 50V at 10,000 ohms, 5V at 1,000 ohms and a power of 0.25 W. It will be appreciated that the current and/or voltage used may be any value or range of values between the exemplary minimum and maximum values provided above. It will be appreciated that the current and/or voltage may be less than the exemplary minimum currents and voltages or greater than the exemplary maximum currents and voltages. It will be appreciated that the electric shock should be sufficient that the user feels the electric shock. It will also be appreciated that the electric shock should not be so great to injure the user. The feedback system 118 may include electrodes that directly contact the player or may be separated a distance from the player to avoid direct contact. In one embodiment, the shock provided is of short duration.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating connection between the detection system and feedback system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 9, the detection system and feedback system are wirelessly coupled. The detection system includes one or more sensors 202 and a Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter 204. The feedback system includes an RF receiver 206 and electric shock system 208. The sensor 202 is directly connected with the RF transmitter 204. The RF receiver 206 is directly connected with the electric shock system 208. In FIG. 8, the RF transmitter 204 is wirelessly connected with the RF receiver 206.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating connection between the detection system and feedback system in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 10, the detection system includes one or more sensors 202 and an RF transmitter 204. The feedback system includes an RF receiver 206 a processor 210, a speaker 212, a vibrator 214 and an electric shock 216. The sensor 202 is directly connected with the RF transmitter 204. The RF receiver 206 is connected with the speaker 212, vibrator 214 and the electric shock 216 through the processor 210. The RF transmitter 204 is wirelessly connected with the RF receiver 206.

The processor may include memory to store the player's results. In one embodiment, the user can access the results to monitor improvement of their swing over time. In one embodiment, the processor is configured to be coupled with an external computer and transmit the player's results to an external computer.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating connection between the detection system and feedback system in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 11, the sensor 302 is directly connected with the electric shock component 304.

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of connection between the detection system and feedback system in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 12, a first voltage 352 is applied to the first rail 112 of the guide system 102, and a second voltage 354 is applied to the second rail 114 of the guide system 102. The first voltage 352 and second voltage 354 are electrically coupled to the feedback device 356 at the player. The player is coupled with a ground 358. When the club 108 contacts either the first rail 112 or second rail 114, a circuit is completed between the guide system 102 and the feedback device 356.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a process 400 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The process 400 begins by detecting a deviated motion (block 404). For example, the motion may be putting swing and the deviated motion may be a nonlinear swing. The deviated motion may be detected in a number of ways, as described hereinabove. The process 400 continues by, in response to the deviated motion (block 404), providing feedback (e.g., an electric shock) to the source of the deviated motion (block 408). Exemplary feedback includes, an electric shock, a vibration motion, a visual indicator, an audio indicator, and the like, and combinations thereof.

It will be appreciated that a detection system and feedback system may be used for other activities. For example, a detection system may be provided that detects errors in racket swings. In another example, the detection system detects errors in a bowling movement. In another example, a detection system may be provided that detects incorrect dance steps. Thus, the systems and methods described herein provide feedback to a user in response to a deviated motion.

Embodiments of the present invention include various operations, as described above. These operations may be performed by hardware components, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the interconnection between circuit components or blocks may be shown as buses or as single signal lines. Each of the buses may alternatively be one or more single signal lines and each of the single signal lines may alternatively be buses.

Certain embodiments may be implemented as a computer program product which may include instructions stored on a machine-readable medium. These instructions may be used to program a general-purpose or special-purpose processor to perform the described operations. A machine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form (e.g., software, processing application) readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, magnetic storage media (e.g., floppy diskette); optical storage media (e.g., CD-ROM); magneto-optical storage media; read-only memory (ROM); random-access memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM and EEPROM); flash memory; electrical, optical, acoustical, or other form of propagated signal (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.); or another type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions.

Additionally, some embodiments may be practiced in distributed computing environments where the machine-readable medium is stored on and/or executed by more than one computer system. In addition, the information transferred between computer systems may either be pulled or pushed across the communication medium connecting the computer systems such as in a remote diagnosis or monitoring system.

Unless stated otherwise as apparent from the discussion, it will be appreciated that terms such as “processing,” “registering,” “determining,” “generating,” “correlating” or the like may refer to the actions and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. Embodiments of the method described herein may be implemented using computer software. If written in a programming language conforming to a recognized standard, sequences of instructions designed to implement the methods can be compiled for execution on a variety of hardware platforms and for interface to a variety of operating systems. In addition, embodiments of the present invention are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement embodiments of the present invention.

Some portions of the description are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits that may be stored within a memory and operated on by a processor. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the art to effectively convey their work. An algorithm is generally conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of acts leading to a desired result. The acts are those requiring manipulation of quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, parameters, or the like.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense. 

1. A system for improving a golf swing, comprising: a guide mechanism comprising a first rail and a second rail, separated by a distance sufficient to accommodate the longest dimension of the head of a golf club therebetween, and a contact detection mechanism; and a feedback mechanism coupled with the contact detection mechanism of the guide mechanism.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the feedback mechanism is coupled with the contact detection mechanism by a wireless mechanism, and wherein the feedback mechanism and the contact detection mechanism each comprise an antenna provided for wireless communication between the feedback mechanism and the contact detection mechanism.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the contact detection mechanism is coupled with the first rail and the second rail and is provided for detecting contact of the head of a golf club with the first rail or the second rail.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the contact detection mechanism comprises one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of capacitive sensors, strain gauges, piezoelectric transducers and accelerometers.
 5. The system of claim 3, wherein the contact detection mechanism is included in a portion of a circuit, and wherein the circuit is completed upon contact of the head of a golf club with the first rail or the second rail.
 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a golf club having a head, wherein one or more sensors is coupled with the head, the one or more sensors provided to generate information regarding the positioning of the head relative to a golf ball placed in the guide mechanism.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the feedback mechanism is configured to provide a feedback to a user, the feedback selected from the group consisting of an electric shock, a vibration, a noise, and a visual indicator.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein the feedback has a magnitude, and wherein the magnitude of the feedback is variable.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the feedback mechanism is coupled with the contact detection mechanism by one or more wires.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first rail is configured to receive a first voltage, wherein the second rail is configured to receive a second voltage, and wherein both the first voltage and the second voltage are electrically coupled to the feedback mechanism at the location of a user, the user being coupled with a ground.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the feedback mechanism is in the form of a collar provided for wearing around a portion of the leg of a user.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first rail and the second rail each comprise a laser, and wherein the contact detection mechanism is provided for detecting blockage of light from at least one of the lasers by the head of a golf club.
 13. A system for improving a golf swing, comprising: a guide mechanism comprising a first rail and a second rail, separated by a distance sufficient to accommodate the longest dimension of the head of a golf club therebetween; and a feedback mechanism coupled directly to the first rail and the second rail of the guide mechanism.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the feedback mechanism, the first rail and the second rail are included in a portion of a circuit, and wherein the circuit is completed upon contact of the head of a golf club with the first rail or the second rail.
 15. The system of claim 13, further comprising: a golf club having a head, wherein one or more sensors is coupled with the head, the one or more sensors provided to generate information regarding the positioning of the head relative to a golf ball placed in the guide mechanism.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the feedback mechanism is configured to provide a feedback to a user, the feedback selected from the group consisting of an electric shock, a vibration, a noise, and a visual indicator, and wherein the magnitude of the feedback is variable.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the feedback mechanism is coupled directly to the first rail and the second rail by one or more wires.
 18. The system of claim 13, wherein the first rail is configured to receive a first voltage, wherein the second rail is configured to receive a second voltage, and wherein both the first voltage and the second voltage are electrically coupled to the feedback mechanism at the location of a user, the user being coupled with a ground.
 19. The system of claim 13, wherein the feedback mechanism is in the form of a collar provided for wearing around a portion of the leg of a user.
 20. The system of claim 13, wherein the first rail and the second rail each comprise a laser, and wherein the feedback mechanism is configured to provide a feedback to a user upon blockage of light from at least one of the lasers by the head of a golf club. 